[T]HE final member of a gang which plotted to bring “significant” quantities of illicit drugs into north Cumbria has been locked up.
Joshua Oruche, 23, was one of half a dozen criminals brought to justice by police who smashed an illegal enterprise spanning five months during 2016. Five of the six were sentenced to a total of almost 30 years in prison at Carlisle Crown Court last month. Oruche failed to attend that hearing.
But today (FRI) he attended court and was finally punished, receiving a five-and-a-half-year jail term from Judge Peter Davies. Oruche, of Gilbert Street, Liverpool, had admitted conspiring to supply class B cannabis, and offering to supply class A heroin.
Police believe a Carlisle-based co-conspirator – 52-year-old Shaun Pattie – made 24 separate journeys to Merseyside and back to collect vast quantities of drugs. These were destined for the streets of Carlisle and Penrith.
Among the other illegal substances said to have been transported into Cumbria during the conspiracy were cocaine and ecstasy.
Jailing Oruche, Judge Davies said of his offending: “This was a significant amount of cannabis regularly brought, in the summer last year, into this county – and it must stop.”
Pattie, of Botcherby Avenue, Carlisle, was locked up for seven years four months. He admitted conspiring to supply cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and cannabis.
Kevin Laidlaw, 30, of Chay Blyth Place, Hawick, pleaded guilty to the same charges and was jailed for 10 years, four months.
Leah Kennedy, 21, of Merith Avenue, Carlisle, was handed a six-year term after admitting conspiracy to supply cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis, and supplying heroin.
Andrew Stevenson, 19, of Argyll Drive, Carlisle, was jailed for four years having admitted cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis supply crimes.
Daniel Weaver, 22, of Sewell Road, Carlisle, got two years. He admitted cannabis and amphetamine supply offences.
